It's still King
By Ty Johnson
Published in News on July 18, 2012 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/MICHAEL BETTS
Board of Elections workers Latsha Cauthen, Joe Morgan and Trebor Jackson check in equipment and ballots from a Wayne County precinct Tuesday evening in the Wayne County Board of Elections parking lot.
Mayor Al King
As the results of the municipal election were rolling in Tuesday night, a few candidates and representatives of candidates were watching returns at the Wayne County Board of Elections -- eyes locked on the scrolling screen.
A couple of blocks away, Mayor Al King was doing no such thing as numbers revealed he had won his third term.
Sure, those gathered around him at The Flying Shamrock were passing off election updates they received via text message, but for King, he was surrounded by his advisers, friends and supporters -- the reason he was running again in the first place.
"That's the only reason -- the primary reason," King said when he learned that with all precincts reporting, he had received more than 62 percent of votes for mayor. "I have a responsibility to give back because I've been given so much."
King, who served in Vietnam, said his experience in the service gave him an appreciation for teamwork and dedication and that his time as mayor had given him time enough to find another team he could trust with his life.
"I would go to war with these people," he said, referring to the city's employees. "That's the highest honor I can give them."
King received 1,605 votes in the election, while challenger Henry Jinnette received 934, good enough for about 36 percent of the 2,550 votes cast.
Jinnette said this morning he did not want to discuss the campaign or his plans for the future.
"I don't have anything to say other than I need to congratulate Mr. King," he said.